Name: Norman Powell DOB: 5/25/1993 (22 in May) School: UCLA
Height: 6’4 Weight: 215 Projected Position: PG/SG
2014-15 Stats (As of 3/9/15):
16.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.9 spg, 2.2 tpg (34.2 minutes per game)
45.4 FG%, 73.2 FT%, 31.3 3FG%, 53.9 TS%, 49.7 eFG%
25.3 USG%, 13.7 DREB%, 12.9 AST%, 12.5 TOV%, 3.4 STL%
SKILLS & ATHLETIC BREAKDOWN
Offense
Ballhandling/Penetration/Passing
Powell is an above-average ballhandler, with the ability to use both hands well, and able to attack the basket in either direction. Powell has a good first step, strong acceleration once he is by his man, and good body control. Powell does a good job keeping his head up when heading to the basket and seeing where the help defenders are, though he needs to do a better job looking for open teammates off the help rotation. He is very good at avoiding the help defenders with a variety of moves, including a nice spin move to the basket, and a strong hop-step into the short jumper. Powell’s ability to finish with either hand around the basket allows him force shot blockers to try and go across his body, and while Powell doesn’t look to draw contact, he can be explosive enough to finish through it. He can have trouble with lengthy defenders around the basket, so he is forced to be creative to find shots, though not always successfully. He needs to learn to use angles well around the basket to help him get good shots off against long defenders. He is a fantastic leaper, and if given any space on his way to the basket, he will finish in a very strong way. Powell has improved a lot as a pick-and-roll ballhandler, though more often than not, he will look for his own shot instead of a teammate. He needs to learn to make his reads better and hitting open teammates quicker in position for them to get a good shot. Powell has the tools as a ballhandler, combined with his advanced understanding of the game, to become more proficient as a facilitator, and he has shown some flashes during the past two seasons.
Perimeter Shooting
Powell is a below-average perimeter shooter, especially from long-range. He does a good job getting square to the basket and into his motion quickly, has good lift, but his extension into his release is inconsistent. At times, it is almost like he is double-clutching before he releases, causing the trajectory to be somewhat awkward. The good news is that when he does show a fluid motion, his jumper looks good; he just needs to find consistency in the motion. Powell likes to use screens, and he uses them well to create space for his jumper, especially in the mid-range area. Once he clears his defender, he is able to stop well and lift up into his shot before the help can arrive. However, as with his long-range shot, he needs to find some consistency, especially from 15 to 20 feet. Powell seems much smoother with his jumper once he gets into the lane. He uses jab steps and shot fakes well when he is looking to drive, and he does the same when looking to set up his jumper. Another key area Powell needs to work on is moving without the ball, especially using screens to get open.
Free Throw Shooting
Powell is an average free throw shooter, and though there are no major fixes needed with his motion and/or release, he should be better. He hesitates near the top of his motion, before his release, and it can cause some of his shots to come out flat. Powell does a decent job getting to the free throw line, especially when he is looking to attack the basket or is out in transition, but he does settle for a lot of long jumpers, which brings his total free throw attempts down.
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Defense
Perimeter Defense (On/Off Ball)
Overall, Powell is an average to above-average perimeter defender, though he often tries to do too much too make up for poorer defending teammates. On the ball, he positions himself well between his man and the basket, and shows good lateral movement over short distances. He can have some trouble reacting to changes in direction, and he will sometimes play on his heels when in isolation. Powell needs to work on getting over screens quicker; he does a good job not getting caught in screens, but he can be slow getting over the top, or finding a way around it. Off the ball, Powell positions himself well and does a good job looking to deny passing lanes. His reaction time is much better off the ball, and he can be very quick to help on penetration. His defensive awareness is good, and though his technique may not be great, he is often in position to make plays. Powell can put more effort into closing on perimeter shooters, especially since his length can be disruptive.
Rebounding
Powell is a decent rebounder for his size, tracking shots well and looking to get into position quickly. Powell does do a very good job looking to put a body on someone, especially keeping players from charging from the perimeter to the glass. When he does secure a rebound, he will look to push the ball up the floor quickly and get his team out in transition.
Transition
Powell is very good about pushing the ball quickly up court, with decent vision and control. He has very good acceleration in the open floor, and he uses a change of pace well to keep defenders trying to contain him off balance. Powell is much better looking to take the ball himself to the basket than he is looking to set up a teammate, but he has shown some ability to find open shooters on the wing. Powell is also capable of getting out on one of the wings on the break, where he can set up behind the arc, or take the ball off the dribble to the rim, and though his jumper is unreliable, he can usually get enough time and space in transition to get a good shot off.
Intangibles/Summary
Despite playing with a number of higher profile teammates over the past four years, Powell has emerged as one of UCLA’s best players on both ends of the floor. Though not a very good long-range shooter, Powell is a versatile offensive weapon, especially when he is aggressive in looking to get to the basket. He uses his athleticism well to create space, both in the halfcourt and in transition, and when the chances are there, he can be one of the most spectacular finishers in college basketball. Powell has continued to improve as a ballhandler and distributor, and there is still room for him to grow in that capacity. Though an Honorable Mention PAC-12 All-Defensive Player last season, Powell is underrated as a defender, though this season, it often seemed like he tried to do too much to make up for less defensively-inclined teammates, which in turn led to some easy opportunities for the opposition. He has the ability to contain out on the perimeter and shows very good awareness on the defensive side. Overall, Powell is a high-level athlete with still some room to grow skill-wise, but he has adapted to a lot of changes over the past few years at UCLA and has emerged as a leader and a better ballplayer.
Draft Value: Late 2nd Round – #45-55
There is a lot to like about Powell as a pro, especially his athleticism and his ability to defend. I have a feeling that he will need to become a much better ballhandler and distributor to make a serious run at the NBA, but it’s not outside the realm of possibility, especially if he can spend next year somewhere where he can work on those skills. No matter where he ends up, it’s safe to say that Powell will give his all to make himself and his team better.
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